Holiday Shopping Guide: Unique Gifts Only Available at NHMU
By Olivia Barney
The best part of the holiday season is connecting with loved ones through traditions and quality time, but sometimes a thoughtful, personalized gift can help communicate your love and appreciation for the people you call family. At this time of year, the streets of Salt Lake City are filled with shoppers searching local stores to find gifts for everyone on their lists. However, finding the perfect present in a world with so many gift options can be overwhelming as you’re met with bustling crowds and the out-of-stock disappointment of big-box stores.
This year, give the gift of curiosity with the help of NHMU!
We’re here to take the stress out of your holiday shopping with a list of unique and crowd-favorite gift ideas from the Museum Store! Whether you’re looking for stocking stuffers or grand gestures, we’ve got a selection of science-based gifts for the whole family, from dinosaur toys to Museum Memberships. By shopping at the Museum Store, you’ll avoid the crowds and complications of franchised stores and find gifts only available at NHMU. The Museum Store is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day and remains open late until 9 p.m. on Wednesdays. It will close early at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Museum Members can show their membership card at checkout to receive a 10% discount.
Give the Gift That Keeps on Giving: Museum Memberships
For the budding scientists, curious minds, and adventurous explorers in your household, gift them unlimited access to the Museum, its programs, and exhibitions all year long with a Museum Membership! Some Museum Member benefits include:
- Unlimited free admission with express entry
- 10% discounts in the Museum Store, Café, and on workshops and classes
- Invitations to Member-only previews of special exhibitions
- Complimentary access to our Audio Tour Insider Stories
- And much more!
Order your gift Museum Memberships by the end of day December 18 to ensure delivery before Christmas! And, if you buy a gift Museum Membership on #GivingTuesday, you can save 10 percent.
Gifts for Dinosaur Enthusiasts of All Ages
Utah’s desert landscape is a treasure trove of prehistoric life while the Museum Store is equally full of dinosaur-themed gems! Whether you’re looking for dinosaur decor, fossil replicas, or Jurassic World-inspired cookbooks, we have what you’re looking for. Our shelves are also stocked with soft plushies, educational games, and entertaining picture books for your junior paleontologists.
Gifts for Fans of NHMU’s Indigenous Art Market
Each year the Indigenous Art Market brings a wide array of Native artists to NHMU, along with guests who hope to bring some one-of-a-kind artwork home. But did you know that the Museum Store sells Indigenous art all year round? Support local Native artists this holiday season by purchasing handmade jewelry, dreamcatchers, and pottery.
Spark Creativity Through NHMU’s Discovery Classes
NHMU offers a variety of Youth and Family Programs designed to encourage curious exploration for most grade levels. These STEAM-based courses explore science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics through hands-on activities and educator-led discussions. Whether your child is interested in the physics of roller coaster design or the wild variety of Utah’s ecosystems, our Discovery Classes are the perfect blend of education and entertainment.
Please note: To maximize participant experience, space is limited. Museum Members receive a discount on programming, but membership is not required to register.
Sparkling Gifts for Gem Lovers
There are few places as rich in geological history as Utah, a land which is home to hundreds of unique gems and minerals. Bring the glittering fascination of mineralogy home this year with sparkling gems, vintage puzzles, or a comprehensive gem and mineral encyclopedia.
Gifts for Frequent Visitors to Utah’s National Parks
Along with fascinating prehistoric fossils and diverse geological record, Utah is home to five National Parks — commonly referred to as the Mighty Five. This makes it one of the best places in the nation to hike, camp, and explore! Stock up on all the guides and gear your loved ones will need during their outdoor explorations of Utah this year.
Plan Them a Birthday Party They’ll Never Forget
Whether your child has a birthday over the holidays or you’re looking ahead to celebrating in the new year, NHMU has party options for kids turning 5-10 years old! The Museum is the place to be for a unique celebration that they’ll remember for a lifetime. With six exciting themes to choose from, our parties have options for every interest!
Birthday party packages include personalized electronic invitations, a fun backdrop for party photos, 20 day-of admission passes, and goodie bags for each guest! Our party staff will facilitate hands-on science activities in colorfully decorated party spaces reserved just for you!
Birthday Party dates book quickly! We recommend requesting your party date as early as possible!
Gifts Celebrating Utah’s Beauty and Local Businesses
Utah’s unique landscape is home to talented artisans. Support these local creatives by shopping handmade jewelry, pins, and artwork at the Museum Store! We have an extensive collection of locally sourced items that aren’t just beautiful, they’re also representative of Utah’s unique natural history!
Make a Splash With These Underwater Treasures
Bring a bit of the ocean’s wonder to your landlocked relatives in Utah this holiday season. In conjunction with our current special exhibition, Orcas: Our Shared Future, we’ve stocked our shelves with a sea of orca-themed gifts. From puzzles and apparel to indigenous depictions of the sacred orca, we have underwater treasures for all ages.
Authors
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By Olivia Barney
Olivia serves as NHMU’s Marketing Copywriter/Coordinator, where she collaborates across departments to craft engaging stories that help bring groundbreaking research projects to life. She might be the Oxford comma’s number one fan.
